Fighting the Fakes: The battle against AI disinformation
The Electoral Commission has launched a deepfake detection pilot ahead of May's elections. LocalGov's editor William Eichler finds out how it works.
Teachers win £15m in compensation claims
02/04/2026 Teachers received over £15m in compensation for successful claims, including one which involved a six-figure payout for a teacher who was hit by a toaster. |
Commission demands end to candidate abuse ahead of May polls
30/03/2026 Electoral Commission has issued a plea for respectful debate in the run up to the local elections in May following ‘unacceptable’ levels of intimidation. |
New guidance announced to help councils boost street safety for women and girls
25/03/2026 One in three young women are deterred from walking locally due to safety concerns, research has found. |
Why site accommodation matters in local authority project delivery
16/03/2026 Effective site accommodation can support safety, workforce wellbeing and delivery across council construction projects, says Iain Davidson, Wernick Hire. |
TfL allocates nearly £95m to London boroughs for safer streets
12/03/2026 Transport for London (TfL) is set to invest £94.8m in the 32 London boroughs and the City of London in 2026/27 to make streets safer and more accessible. |
WWII bomb discovered in park
06/03/2026 A section of Apex Park in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge has been cordoned off after suspected unexploded ordnance from WWII was uncovered during works. |
Councils’ wood burning campaign prompts stove industry backlash
05/03/2026 Councils have been warned of possible legal action from the stove industry due to their campaigns cautioning about the dangers of wood burning. |
AAT helps Councils step up to address children’s social care
27/02/2026 As the Government announces a £555m fund for children’s social care reform, focusing on putting families first and providing early help, AAT is stepping up to help councils deliver in practice. |
Weapons seized in Manchester Central Mosque incident
26/02/2026 Local leaders in Manchester have expressed ‘deep concern’ after two men carrying a bag containing weapons walked into Manchester Central Mosque. |
MPs urge reform of local decision-making after fan ban review
23/02/2026 MPs have raised concerns over the use of AI and information-sharing in local decision-making following last year’s ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv FC fans. |
Call for stronger governance of AI transcription in social work
12/02/2026 AI transcription tools are being rapidly adopted across social work but evaluation frameworks are ‘limited’, raising governance concerns, researchers warn. |
London boroughs to benefit from better bus shelter designs
09/02/2026 New bus shelter designs with improved safety and accessibility features are to be piloted at 27 different locations across the capital. |
Reform council chair resigns following illegal HMO operations
02/02/2026 A council chairman has resigned after being found to have unlawfully operated unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMO). |
HMO consultation to be launched in Salford following ‘concerning’ inspection results
29/01/2026 Salford City Council has announced plans to begin a consultation on implementing a citywide licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO). |
Retired engineer found guilty of blowing up ULEZ camera
29/01/2026 Retired engineer Kevin Rees has been found guilty of using a homemade bomb to blow up an Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) camera in south-east London. |
Wolverhampton council trials smart sensors in grit bins
26/01/2026 City of Wolverhampton Council is testing new sensor technology in grit bins as part of ongoing winter work to keep residents safe. |
New Town properties at risk of ‘severe’ aviation disruption, analysis says
19/01/2026 Eleven of the Government’s proposed New Town locations will experience ‘significant aircraft noise exposure’, research suggests. |
Residents thanked for bomb disposal co-operation
16/01/2026 Residents have been told they can return to their homes after an operation to dispose of an unexploded World War Two bomb found in Exmouth Marina. |
Cotton piles pressure on West Midlands Police chief to stand down
15/01/2026 Birmingham City Council’s Labour leader John Cotton has called for the chief constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, to stand down. |
Residents warned of risk to homes during Storm Goretti
09/01/2026 Great Yarmouth Borough Council has told those living in clifftop properties that their homes are at ‘serious risk’ of collapse from Storm Goretti. |
Consultation launched on taxi licensing reform
08/01/2026 The Government has launched a public consultation on proposals to reduce 'out-of-area' working by taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers. |
Birmingham faces MP criticism surrounding football fan ban
07/01/2026 MPs have accused Birmingham CC of providing a ‘biased picture’ surrounding the decision to ban Israeli football fans from a match against Aston Villa. |
Mayor welcomes new road safety strategy
07/01/2026 West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has welcomed the Government’s announcement of the first national road safety strategy in more than a decade. |
Families urged to be vigilant against fake Christmas toys
24/12/2025 A warning has been issued to remind families of the danger of counterfeit toys amid a rising number of fake Labubu dolls being seized at the border. |
Shropshire canal incident sees residents rescued by firefighters
22/12/2025 Shropshire Council has reported a ‘major incident’ following the collapse of a local canal bank. |
Tunbridge Wells water safe again following outage uproar
12/12/2025 A boil water notice has been lifted in Tunbridge Wells following the water outage that was declared a major incident. |
Devo Bill amendments to protect councillors' addresses
24/11/2025 Ministers have acted upon Conservative calls to table amendments to the Devo Bill so councillors' addresses do not have to be published. |
Labour refuses to use devo Bill to protect councillors' addresses
13/11/2025 The Government has rejected a plea to use the devolution Bill to remove the requirement for councillors to publish their home addresses. |
Warning issued after seizure of 3,600 illegal vehicle parts
29/10/2025 Authorities have seized more than 3,600 counterfeit vehicle parts worth over £100,000 from a self-storage facility in South Gloucestershire. |
Building Safety Regulator delays prompt rethink
28/10/2025 Elements of building safety could be removed from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and returned to local authority control. |
Commissioner calls for ‘immediate review’ of Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban
17/10/2025 A decision to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a football game against Aston Villa has been called into question. |
Greater Manchester council staff face rising levels of abuse
08/10/2025 Incidents of abuse towards Greater Manchester council workers have surged by 17% since 2022/23. |
Council considers court order over unstable building
03/10/2025 Herefordshire Council is seeking legal advice due to safety issues surrounding a high street building. |
Mayor calls for overhaul of ‘broken’ speed enforcement system
26/09/2025 West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has backed a campaign calling on the Government to review the country’s speed enforcement system. |
Council wardens hailed for bravery in knife incident
25/09/2025 Middlesbrough Council Neighbourhood Safety Wardens have been praised as heroes after confronting a knife-wielding man in the town centre. |
West Midlands launches plan to remove unsafe cladding
24/09/2025 The West Midlands Combined Authority has unveiled a plan to remove unsafe cladding from residential buildings over 11 metres tall. |
‘No place for misogyny’ in communities, charity says
23/09/2025 Sixty-eight per cent of girls and women aged 11 to 21 have adjusted their behaviour to avoid sexual harassment, a survey has revealed. |
Weather stations vandalised amid speed camera confusion
21/08/2025 Three roadside weather stations in Durham have been wrecked in what is thought by locals to be a protest against speed cameras. |
Council attempts to bury hatchet with Oasis
18/08/2025 The leader of Edinburgh City Council has reached out to Oasis after the band’s singer Liam Gallagher attacked the local authority for allegedly mocking fans. |
Unauthorised flags endanger motorists, council warns
15/08/2025 Birmingham City Council is removing unauthorised flags from lampposts as part of a drive to improve safety in the city for motorists and pedestrians. |
Councils crack down on dangerous fake Labubus sold by ‘rogue traders’
13/08/2025 A number of councils have issued statements about the health and safety risks posed by fake Labubu toys. |
Council fined following care home health and safety issues
11/08/2025 A fine of nearly £100,000 has been issued to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council due to an incident in St Brendan's Care Home. |
Acrospire Delivers Retrofit Lighting for Newbridge’s Joe Calzaghe Footbridge
11/08/2025 Acrospire has enhanced pedestrian safety on Newbridge’s Joe Calzaghe Footbridge with a targeted retrofit lighting scheme. |
Cheshire East backs safety protocol to protect councillors against abuse
07/08/2025 Cheshire East Council has voted in favour of implementing anti-abuse, intimidation and harassment measures following a councillor survey. |
Council launches investigation into water park death
06/08/2025 Stoke-on-Trent City Council has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a four-year-old girl at the Waterworld water park. |
Council closes Hillsborough stand due to safety fears
31/07/2025 Sheffield Wednesday has been prohibited from using the North Stand at Hillsborough Stadium by the city council due to safety concerns. |
Suffolk CC to launch self-driving vehicle study
29/07/2025 Suffolk County Council has received over £70,000 to fund a study of driverless shuttle services. |
Councillors hold minute’s silence for girl killed by tree
14/07/2025 Councillors in Southend-on-Sea held a minute’s silence in memory of a seven-year-old girl who was killed by a falling tree. |
Reform-led council to bring social housing in-house
25/06/2025 West Northamptonshire Council's cabinet has voted to bring back in-house the management of 11,500 social homes. |
Notting Hill Carnival’s future in question
19/06/2025 The current levels of local government support are not enough to address safety concerns with the Notting Hill Carnival, leaked letter from organiser warns. |
How to Fix Local Roads: Sustainable Road Maintenance Solutions for Local Government
06/06/2025 Explore expert insights on sustainable road maintenance and pothole repair, and learn how local government can fix the road network with proactive strategies. |
Liverpool parade crash casts ‘dark shadow’, council leader says
27/05/2025 Liverpool City Council leader has paid tribute to the emergency services after a car hit pedestrians in the city centre during Premier League victory parade. |
Councils struggle to tackle violence against women and girls
16/05/2025 Local support services for violence against women and girls (VAWG) are experiencing increased pressure due to high volumes of referrals and inadequate funding, study finds. |
Getting the most from your lift maintenance agreement
13/05/2025 Smart negotiation of maintenance contracts can save money, whilst ensuring reliability, says Oliver Greening, LIFTEX 2025 Show Director. |
Council launches lawsuit against Grenfell fire fridge maker
28/04/2025 Kensington and Chelsea has accused the manufacturer of the fridge blamed for starting the Grenfell Tower fire of failing to carry out adequate safety tests. |
Directors of children’s services criticise pepper spray policy
24/04/2025 Council directors working in children’s services have criticized the Government’s decision to allow the use of pepper spray in young offender institutions. |
Council to sell unsafe properties purchased after Grenfell fire
22/04/2025 The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is aiming to sell off 14 properties that it purchased to house survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire. |
Council issues order to protect remains of ancient oak
16/04/2025 Enfield Council has issued an emergency preservation order to protect what remains of a 500-year-old oak tree that was partially felled by a pub chain. |
Minister: No compromise on building safety amid housing target pressure
01/04/2025 Building safety will not be compromised as the Government tries to meet its 1.5m new homes target, minister Alex Norris has insisted. |
Godstone sinkhole residents able to return home
27/03/2025 Most of the residents of a Surrey village affected by a huge sinkhole are now able to return to their homes, the council has confirmed. |
Cladding safety tax delayed one year
26/03/2025 A tax to fund the removal of unsafe cladding from homes has been delayed one year over fears it might undermine the Government's housebuilding plans. |
TfL bans non-folded e-bikes on network
26/03/2025 Transport for London (TfL) has announced a ban on all non-folded e-bikes on parts of London’s transport network due to the fire risk. |
Government ‘complacent’ over cladding capacity issue
20/03/2025 The Government ‘appears complacent’ about the fact there is insufficient capacity across local government to address the dangerous cladding crisis, MPs warn. |
Managing Lifts in Public Buildings and the Building Safety Act
13/03/2025 LIFTEX 2025 Show Director Oliver Greening explains the changes to lift management and maintenance requirements brought about by the Building Safety Act. |
Acrospire Enhances Harlington Underpass with Energy-Saving Vandal-Resistant Lighting
10/03/2025 Acrospire works with Hillingdon Council and J McCann & Co Limited to revitalise a key pedestrian route in London, addressing users’ safety concerns. |
Vent-Axia Publishes Free eBook to Help Social Housing Landlords Navigate Awaab’s Law
05/03/2025 Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has published a free eBook ‘Ensuring Safe Housing Conditions: Focusing on Mould and Damp Conditions’. |
Rayner: Grenfell inquiry must be ‘catalyst’ for systemic change
26/02/2025 The Government is committed to ‘stronger regulation’ to improve building safety, says Rayner while setting out the response to the Grenfell inquiry. |
Grenfell council stands by contractor ban despite legal threat
24/02/2025 Kensington and Chelsea LBC is standing by its ban of a contractor involved in Grenfell Tower's refurbishment despite the firm mounting a legal challenge. |
Investigations into Godstone sinkhole delayed
24/02/2025 Authorities have delayed investigations into the cause of a huge sinkhole in a Surrey village, citing safety concerns. |
Make a dent in the £100m compensation claim bill
19/02/2025 With stairs being the most common hazard in the home, AAT is giving local authority social care teams a best value tool to manage safety, fast. |
Major incident declared after sinkhole appears in Surrey
19/02/2025 Agencies have declared a major incident after a sinkhole appeared in a Surrey village, forcing residents to evacuate their homes. |
Grenfell Tower to be dismantled ‘sensitively’
10/02/2025 Angela Rayner has written to bereaved families who lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire explaining that the building will be ‘sensitively’ taken down. |
Government failing to tackle violence against women and girls
31/01/2025 A damning new report has concluded that government efforts have failed to improve outcomes for victims of violence against women and girls (VAWG). |
Major flooding incident in Somerset as residents evacuated
28/01/2025 A major incident was declared in Somerset yesterday as residents were evacuated from their homes due to flooding. |
Lancashire set to spend £14m on repairs at 61 schools
16/01/2025 Lancashire County Council has set out plans to spend a government grant on ‘urgent’ repairs at 61 schools. |
Newcastle Council tackles dangerous staircases
08/01/2025 More than 3,000 homes and 57 blocks of flats with potentially dangerous staircases have been identified by Newcastle City Council. |
Council to scrap new grit bins
06/01/2025 Milder winters and fiscal pressures have prompted Dudley Council to consider stopping the introduction of any new grit bins. |
Acrospire launch aGlow Road Safety Light: a cutting edge IoT-enabled solution to ensure school zone safety
13/12/2024 British exterior lighting manufacturer, Acrospire, is proud to announce the launch of a new state-of-the-art, twin-amber hazard warning light designed specifically to enhance safety around school environments. |
Regulator to check councils’ asbestos control
06/12/2024 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is set to inspect hundreds of council buildings to check the risk of asbestos is being properly managed. |
Child was at ‘constant risk of injury’ in unsafe temporary accommodation
05/12/2024 A family with a disabled child had to live in an unsafe flat for a year and a half longer than they should have, an investigation has found. |
Social worker safety put at risk by policy changes
03/12/2024 Policy changes reducing police presence at mental health incidents are putting the safety of social workers at risk, a charity and university have warned. |
Brum staff call for security review
26/11/2024 Birmingham City Council staff have called for a review of security at their offices after three housing staff were injured in a ‘serious incident'. |
Pop-up flood awareness centre opens in Hull
26/11/2024 A pop-up flood awareness centre has opened in Hull to offer advice on how to prepare in the event of flooding. |
CCTV trial launches at London bus stops
25/11/2024 Transport for London (TfL) has launched a trial of CCTV at 20 bus shelters across the capital in a bid to improve safety, particularly for women and girls. |
Councillors demand action over ship with explosive material
19/11/2024 The decision to allow the MV Ruby, a ship carrying 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, to return to Great Yarmouth was ‘unacceptable’, councillors warn. |
Council fined £500k after dog walker death
11/11/2024 Cheshire East Council has been fined £500,000 after admitting breaches of health and safety legislation that led to a dog walker's death. |
Woman fell to death trying to fix council flat drainpipe, inquest finds
11/11/2024 A 37-year-old woman who died after falling from a sixth-floor Hackney Council flat was trying to fix a blocked drainpipe, an inquest has found. |
New steps to keep tenants safe
08/11/2024 Housing Associations can now access a cost-effective method of managing the risk of helping keep tenants safe when using stairs. |
Charity calls for national standards on taxi licensing
05/11/2024 An anti-stalking and harassment charity has called for stricter background checks to be introduced for taxi drivers applying for licenses. |
Scotland announces local safety cash with £4m for 20mph limits
05/11/2024 The Scottish Government has committed £14m to Scotland’s 32 councils to enhance road safety, with £4m dedicated to the rollout of 20mph limits. |
Edinburgh urged to consider drug testing amid HGV safety concerns
31/10/2024 ‘Strong concerns around the potential use of alcohol or drugs while driving’ have emerged in a report into the safety of City of Edinburgh Council’s heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). |
Acrospire's Sustainable Lighting Solution for Luton Bus Shelters
29/10/2024 Acrospire has provided Luton Borough Council with a solar-powered solution that ensures zero energy consumption and robust performance. |
Watchdog to investigate death of schoolgirl in mudslide
10/10/2024 The national health and safety regulator has taken over the investigation into how a 10-year-old girl was killed by a mudslide during a school trip. |
Council alters head-bumping event over safety concerns
20/09/2024 A Cornish council has agreed to make changes to a local ceremony dating back to the 16th century over health and safety concerns. |
Norfolk schools inspected due to ceiling collapse fears
19/09/2024 Norfolk County Council has commissioned inspections of 37 more school buildings over concerns the ceilings could be at risk of collapse. |
Martyn's Law: Bill to protect public from terrorism introduced
13/09/2024 Plans to require venues to introduce measures to protect visitors and staff from terror attacks – known as Martyn's Law – have been introduced to Parliament. |
Mayors asked to take lead in drive against extremism
05/09/2024 Local political leaders have been asked to spearhead efforts to tackle extremism and foster greater community cohesion following a summer of disorder. |
Cambridgeshire to plead guilty after busway deaths
03/09/2024 Cambridgeshire County Council will plead guilty to two health and safety offences after three people died in collisions on its guided busway. |
Shock as council paints over potholes
23/08/2024 Residents and councillors in Lymington were left in shock after the highway authority closed a pothole-riddled road for repairs – only to paint over the cavities. |
Safety warning as 75-year-old fills potholes
23/08/2024 A Scottish council has expressed health and safety and insurance concerns after a 75-year-old resident used gardening tools to fill in potholes. |
